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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Purses. Big or small, colorful or leather, they come in endless shapes, sizes and styles. And no matter the design, owning a purse seems to be something that most of us ladies have in common; and many of you have been itching to take a peek inside my purse and see how I keep it organized.

It's nothing super thrilling or exciting, but it is something that keeps me sane from day to day. Over the years I have carried different purses of different shapes and sizes and within the last two years I came to a very obvious conclusion. I realized that if I have the space, I will use it. Meaning, if I carry a large purse, magically it becomes filled with more items and it becomes more challenging to organize and find the things I need. Receipts, toys, cosmetics, you name it, I have tried carrying it! Keeping that in mind, I have switched to one single little clutch:

It's neutral so I can carry it with just about anything, and it's small enough that I only allow myself to carry my basic essentials with me at all times.

I know, you must think there is no way this can be true. But it is. I will admit that I also have two other bags. I have a padded camera purse that I adore and I have a simple work tote. Whenever I am heading off to take photos, I take my camera bag and my clutch fits nicely inside. When I travel for work or we are taking a road trip, my needs change and I carry a larger tote with some essentials and the clutch also fits nicely inside of that. Diaper bag days are gone, but if necessary, this clutch could also be tossed inside of one of those. That is why I have fallen hard for a clutch purse, it is so versatile!

Although it is fairly small, it does a great job carrying everything I truly need on a daily basis!

Lets take a closer look at what is inside:

Wallet

Keys

Change {for meters, tolls, etc...}

Sunglasses

Pen

Cell Phone

Nail Clippers

Lip Balm

As I mentioned, the larger the purse, the more that can easily accumulate. This way, I can keep it easy to maintain and quickly find anything I need. Rummaging through a deep purse to find my keys is one of those things that quickly makes me hot and flustered and frustrated. Ew.

My wallet is also fairly basic, I use each of the compartments to hold my debit cards, ID, store cards, insurance cards, checkbook and deposit slips:

Simple as that! No fancy pants organizers or storage cases. Just a simple little clutch that I can't allow it to be filled with odds and ends and that forces me to quickly clean out extra change and any receipts that may accumulate in a single day.

So what works best for you in the world of purses and handbags? Any funny stories about the oddest item you have found when cleaning out or digging through your purse?

111 comments:

I keep them in my wallet until I get home and then place them in a pouch at my desk {seen here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2012/03/martha-stewart-home-office-review.html}. Then, they are in one place when working on balancing our checkbook, budgeting, etc...

Thanks! You just inspired me to clean out my purse. I had gotten frustrated just this morning digging through my purse for a UBS drive that I *knew* was there (I ended up giving up and getting another one). Now, all the receipts are gone and I can actually find things again.

I do the same sort of thing with a little wristlet purse with a zipper closure. It's so smart and definitely saves my shoulders from extra weight and makes it so I don't forget anything when switching purses. The little wristlet fits perfectly into my giant purse with a laptop slot that I take to work and into my large padded camera purse. I keep the essentials (credit cards, cash, keys, chapstick, bobby pins, and a few other things) in the little wristlet and also, this way if I just need to run to the corner store I can take the wristlet and leave all the rest. It's great!

Oh Jen this is GREAT! It never occurred to me to have a smaller purse! Instead I fill up my large purse with things I may use once a year, IF I can even find them in there. I am definitely inspired. Thanks and I LOVE your site!

Do you have super cheap sunglasses that you don't care about? I would never put mine in there without a case. That being said, great idea to force the small purse. I think I should go purse shopping to get a smaller one! :)

I'm so with you on this one! I just started carrying a small purse when I upgraded our diaper bag to one of those 31 utility totes we received as a gift. I have everything for DD compartmentalized in separate baggies in the diaper bag (mostly those free ones you get with cosmetic purchases I've collected over the years), and now my purse fits right in. It's got a super long strap to wear across my body, so when we're running in somewhere quickly, I just throw it on sans diaper bag, and we're off! I LOVE that it doesn't require a hand to carry and that it won't fall off my shoulder dealing with a toddler. My stuff is compartmentalized as well - wallet, phone, keys & pouch of lip glosses. My "mama tackle box" is in the diaper bag, so all the meds, nail clippers, shout wipes & such stay in there and don't have to be lugged around all the time.

Thanks Jen for all of the organizing tips. I too find if I carry a larger purse it becomes cluttered with junk I don't need. I really appreciate all of your efforts and enjoy reading your blog tremendously. Tracy

My purse doubled as a school bag, since I only ever brought a clipboard, pencils, and snacks to school. But sometimes I forgot about the snack I had stashed in there. I would clean out my purse to discover mutilated and forgotten sandwiches, bottles of juice, and once... a McDonald's apple pie.

i am also with you on this one Jen - i use a small purse now, though not a clutch coz i will probably drop it all the time knowing how clumsy i am! lol!having a 3-year old boy and 1-yr old girl, supposedly i should be bringing a diaper bag but instead i let them bring their own backpacks when we go out...it is so much better now plus the kids love to bring their own stuff too!!

I want to see the inside of your work bag. When I work at the hospital I seem to throw everything into one big bag and figure it out after I get to work. My folders for work, lunch bag, keys, sunglasses, and clutch just get smashed from being tousled around together.

Love the clutch! I can't wait to be done with the large purse I need now to hold diapers and sippy cups....hopefully for only one more year or so. I do carry a baseball in my purse in the summer, you never know when a boy might need one :)

But where do you keep your cash in your wallet? I would love to just have the one wallet rather than carrying around a check book wallet as well. I totally agree though - a bigger bag just attracts more stuff! I have been using a purse organiser too and that works well for moving between bags.

Yup, I'm right with you..and the clutch size is too easy to lose while out on errands with the kiddos. I like my purse to hang over my shoulder so I can move my underarms and be hands-free when holding kids hands or multiple store bags. I keep my purse very minimal especially wallet. Even though I no longer have kids in diapers I will always carry a plastic small wipies pack in my purse...dirty hands appear out of nowhere and ANYWHERE and we all know water faucets don't magically appear the second your kids have dirty hands.

I totally understand! I have chronic back pain so I stray away from carrying anything with straps as often as I can {and I am not a fan of when they slip down my arm, lol}. But agree, I have to be careful not to drop or set the clutch down.

Nope. But if I snag a nail, it becomes quite bothersome to me so I will politely clip it in a discrete area. Too many times I have been out and wishing I had a nail clippers. It is tiny enough that it lives in a little pouch in the clutch for those just in case moments.

I can't go anywhere without a pair of nail clippers! They are definitely a must have to carry and very useful for purposes other than clipping your nails. Better than carrying a pair of scissors with you which seems slightly dangerous.

Great post! I have a 3 month old son, so I've been working on carrying just the essentials but also being able to go out for longer day trips without spending a lot of time repacking a bag. I do something similar with a wristlet for my essentials, a small bag with two diapers, wipes and a burp cloth for baby's essentials and a bigger diaper bag that holds more diapers, a blanket, rattle, etc. The wristlet and small bag live in the diaper bag so I always know where they are and I can just grab what I need on the way out.

I love that you even blurred your picture on your drivers license :) I've always wondered what your diaper bags looked like when your boys were younger since I am still in the diaper stage stage with my 2 year old son. I try to put everything in it's own little zipped case or compartment but it is still a bit of a daily struggle with

I'd also like to state that carrying nail clippers &/or a nail file is something i've done since i owned a purse and I dont find it "fascinating" at all!

I did the same thing a few years ago! Instead of a clutch, I actually use a wallet with enough room to fit all of my essentials and a removable shoulder strap (I have two toddlers and don't have the luxury of a free hand, lol). I can toss it into a larger purse or my diaper bag, or just hook up the strap for a quick trip.

Hi Jen,here ist the story of my organized handbag:http://bscrapt.blogspot.de/2012/04/organisiere-dein-taschchen.htmland here ist the shop with the handbagorganizers:http://www.shop.thecherrybrand.de/taschen.html

JuneBug- don't be such a nerd! Remove the turtleneck and take your hair out of that tight bun and you'll feel better, promise.

Thanks for the look inside your purse, Jen. I like to carry my EC planner with me everywhere so a clutch is out of the question for me, but I may re-think that down the line. It's good to re-evaluate what you are carrying around with you every now and then.

Clean. Simple. Functional Just what I like :) I used to carry a big purse, and I was always holding up the grocery line digging through for my debit card/change etc. Was so embarrassing! I just take my wallet, but love the idea of a clutch. I think I would like one with a optional strap, just in case I need a hands free moment!

Jen,Hi there! I'm new around here and just signed up to receive your posts by email. Love the idea of the organized purse! I long for the days that my purse will not include snack cups and water bottles (for me to carry) anymore. However, I do love the way you organize the wallet. Tell me, what do you do with all the reward cards (you know, the punch cards, the frequent buyer cards, etc.)? Do you keep those in your wallet, or are you simply forgoing those?

I'm so jealous! I wish I could carry a purse that small but I am a Type 1 diabetic, so my purse contains my glucose meter, candy, etc - all the trappings of being a diabetic. However, I think our concepts are the same. I have a medium size purse and then I carry separate smaller bags inside it. I have my essentials (like what you have in your clutch), and then I have another little bag just for the diabetes stuff. It stinks, but I'm determined to be a fashionable (and organized) diabetic :P

I've recently switched to a smaller bag too. It was getting out of hand. My purse was always heavy, but one afternoon a couple of weeks ago I wondered why it seemed exceptionally heavy. I found a bongo drum in there. Yup.

I have a diaper bag instead of a purse since I have a young child. But before I became a mom I didn't carry a purse if I could help it. I have a small wallet that fits in my pocket and my keys. that's it.

But, one time I cleaned out my mom's purse and found an apple that must have been in there for a couple/few weeks because it was pretty squishy. All she said was, "Huh, thought my purse was a little heavy."

I actually love bigger bags for their versatility (if I make a small purchase, it can double as a shopping bag, etc.) For me it's all about searching for a bag that has many awesome inner and/or outer pockets. I decide what goes in each pocket, and I never change that, making sure everything gets put back where it goes. No digging, and plenty of room if needed!

I just ordered the original "PAK" for my purse after finding it on one of the daily deal sites. I like having all the optional things I need but I was definitely tired of hauling it all around. I just got the "PAK" and so far I am a fan! My purse is much lighter yet I still have all the "things" I think I might need! And, of course, it is super organized which I like as well! -Jana H

Love that idea! My purse is a disaster and I am working on ways to improve. My fear with the clutch, though, is I am bound to set it down somewhere and leave without it. I need the security of having something on my shoulder. The simplicity of the clutch is awesome and something I will have to think more about. Thanks and have a great week!-Sandy

I'm not a fan of clutch purses ONLY because I like to be able to have my hands free and don't like to put my purse down in public. Otherwise, good job on yours.

I once had a friend who had a tiny purse but she could fit SO MUCH in it, including her jacket! I used to tease her and ask where the rabbit was because it really was a tiny purse but she could fit so much in it! :)

Helpful post...always been on the search for the perfect purse, but since becoming a mom, it seems more about how well it's organized than the appearance...I have found it handy to have a separate card holder for just my credit card/grocery card...and all the "rest" in the wallet. Glad I am not the only one think about this! Love your blog-need to follow to learn more!

Have you been watching me?! About a month ago I made the same decision and I LOVE my little clutch. It feels so great to know that I have all the essentials and nothing extraneous! Mine has a little wrist strap that has come in handy at times. I don't think I'll ever go back to a shoulder bag. I love feeling so free!

I definitely need to utilize this... my purse is a bottomless pit and I never seem to be able to find anything! Yeah... I'm that person who causes a line at Kroger cause I can't find my rewards card...

Maybe we are long lost sisters afterall. I am such a minimalist with what I carry. Minus the check book as I don't really carry one, I have the same list. I switch between two purses. Love the little clutch. Hope you've had a great day.

Hmmmm....I've been using a Vera Bradley id wallet attached to my keyring so I couldn't possibly lose it but could tuck it into my diaper bag or work bag, but then my cell phone has to go somewhere and I never have lipstick...plus the receipts get all tangled up and jammed in the wallet anyway. This could be the answer! And BTW--I keep nail clippers in my car and diaper bag. Not optional at all!

The strangest thing I have ever found in my purse...My son's tooth!!! Ick!!! We were at the dentist and my son had a lose baby tooth, so the dentist pulled it and gave it to me in a little pouch, the pouch came open and I couldn't find it when we got home, I thought we had dropped it along the way somewhere, but nope, a couple days later I cleaned out my purse and there it was. LOL. I guess I need a smaller purse, too.

I went from a very tiny purse to a HUGE one..to my medium sized one...with the tiny one i didnt have room to put anything extra in for a day that I needed something extra. with the big one I couldnt find anything and I once found a large can on Hunts Spaghetti sauce in there and a bag of noodles..It was in there for a week and I didn't notice..needless to say..TOO BIG..now I have the kangaroo keeper which kind of helps..but I still cant find things when I want them.

I have a medium-sized purse. I have my wallet; my reading glasses in a small, hard case; a small pink zippered pouch with mascara, lip gloss, chapstick, tweezers and a tube of sunscreen; another small zippered pouch containing gum, Rolaids, prescription eczema cream and anti-bacterial gel; my cell phone; and in the small zippered pocket I keep a pencil, pen and tiny Moleskine notebook.

It seems like a lot, but everything is travel-sized and by keeping the items in cute zippered pouches I can pull out exactly what I need when I need it, and changing purses is a breeze.

I like to wear my purse across my body, resting on my abdomen. A leftover habit from living in NYC, I suppose.

Great reminder that "need" is a relative term. You've inspired me to switch things up. I really like the idea of being able to pop the clutch into a larger bag when kids are in tow. I'm going to try using just a clutch for me, and keep my current bag for diapers, wipes, snacks, and sippy cups. It'll be refreshing to have a purse of my own again!

The contents of your purse look similar to mine. I dont even carry a checkbook any more - just have one folded check tucked into my wallet should I need one. I have a basket that I use for extra stuff such as coupon binder, store loyalty cards (on a key ring) things that need to be returned to a store or friend, etc. That basket comes in and out from house to car and enables me to have a small purse yet have other things readily available at the same time.

But....what about hand lotion? and kids chapstick? and coupons?!?! and hand sanitizer? and band-aids? I always try to simplify my purse and it seems to always bite me in the butt because I don't have any of these things on me. Especially my coupons! Do you keep all this stuff in your car?

Coupons are in a pouch that stays by the front door and can easily be grabbed when heading to the grocery store. Hand sanitizer is in the car, as are bandaids. :) The kids each have travel bags as well with wipes and sanitizer. I just try to keep things in a way that I don't have to lug it all around everywhere I go, so I disperse it where it is most useful to us. :)

I keep all my stuff in little cosmetic bags with zippers so I can easily change purses. I don't like to keep a lot in my purse, but I always need my chapstick, kleenex, sanitizer, etc. and it's easy just to grab a couple small bags and my wallet and throw them in a new purse.

I have tried to downsize my purse but my kids are still fairly young (3 and 5) so I need both hands free. Its not huge but decent size and I clean it out regularly. Its a Vera Bradley so it has pockets around the inside walls to keep the little things like pens, lip gloss, change... organized and then I can tuck my wallet, nook, notepad, and planner (don't always carry the notepad and planner unless needed)and still have room for the miscellaneous toy, snack or other preschooler paraphernalia. And it can also be tossed in the washer if it gets yucky.

I keep things like a small bottle of hand sanitizer, a nail file, chapstick, etc. in a small ziploc bag. It's easy to see what's inside the bag, and it's all contained. The only thing that is loose in my purse is my keys!

I don't think "downsize" = "organized". I believe if you feel the need or (desire since they're quite fashionable) to carry a larger purse, you absolutely can, but the whole point is to work on the organization of it no matter what the size.

I rotate through 3 different purses and use a kangaroo keeper to keep my essentials in order, and to make sure they make the transfer from one purse to another.

No way would a clutch work for me on a daily basis because my essentials would not fit. I tailor my bag to my needs; I don't tailor my needs to my bag.

BTW - I like Baggallini bags a great solution to the cute large purse/bottomless pit problem because they have SO MANY POCKETS, and you can find them at discounted prices at Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

That is very true, and a great point! I just find that for me personally it is easier to keep things organized when I use the "less is more" method. :) That's just my organizing style, but we are each different and being organized is often just a matter of discipline.

I never meant to imply that the only way to be organized is to use a smaller bag, it's just what is working for me {since it's a frequent question}. So many great solutions for those who still adore carrying a larger purse.

My kids are 6, 4, and 2 and the younger 2 are still in pull-ups/diapers when we are out so I keep one diaper and one pull-up in my bag and a baggie of wipes. I also have my wallet, my planner, chapstick, sunscreen stick, nail clippers, pepper spray (My husband got it for me for Christmas! :)), phone and keys in my purse. Its smaller than a diaper bag but definitely not a small purse. I keep a bag in each of our vehicles with a change of clothes for each kid, an extra shirt for me and extra diapers and wipes so I have those things available but don't have to carry a big bag with me everywhere. I am expecting my 4th in December and I know I'll have to start carrying a diaper bag again but for now I'm enjoying not a bunch of stuff for the kids with me all the time. As for weird things, I often find rocks in the bottom of my purse that my kids have collected and handed to me for safe keeping.

i downsized to a smaller purse. i carry (2) clear zippered makeup pouches: one with Post-Its, my checkbook and pens/pencils, and frequent shopper cards -- and one with a tiny mirror, chapstick, tissues and such. i downsized my day planner to a small pocket planner (yes: i STILL use a written planner). i streamlined my wallet. my cell phone fits in its own little pocket. nightly, i clean/organize it for the next day. change gets dumped each nite into the vacation fund. amazing how much that helps!

I am with you in theory but the reality isn't always so straight forward. I need to switch around glasses (from prescription sunglasses to my normal glasses), I always carry a water bottle, at least one fabric shopping bag ... so even before I start, I need space for all that!

What I have embraced is a three bag system: a wristlet wallet which holds my cards, phone and cash (cheque books are just about extinct her in Aus!), which I can grab and go if I am just running in to one shop. A bigger bag which I add my pouchee organiser, the above essentials and my tablet for work days and then a tote which can hold all of that and anything else I need for a full day out. That might be a sunhat or umbrella, snacks, scarf etc. My tablet means I always have a books, magazines, music etc, so that has eased the load a lot and keeps my chiropractor a little happier!

I love your clutch. I had to do a double take when I saw your license and realized you're also from Wisconsin, very cool... I carry a rather large Coach purse and everyone always makes fun of me that I never have anything in it and why the need for such a large purse! I just love my purse and don't have much to carry I guess. BTW love your blog.

Jen, I wasn't sure if you knew about the cardstar app. It allows you to scan or manually enter all of your rewards cards, even library cards with barcodes onto your smart phone. I added all of mine and then just stored the actual cards. Such a useful app!

As a purse girl, I am advocating the return of key cases. Metal keys should not be thrown haphazardly in a purse with my expensive leather wallet. Even the key leashes in bags like D & B don't keep the keys from scratching my other stuff. Key cases are the answer until keys are obsolete.

Sorry I'm commenting on everything a little late! I just started reading your blog and am reading backwards! I keep telling myself that I want to buy a nice, big purse to store a bunch of stuff in, but you're right! Things just accumulate and get unorganized! I will have to keep an eye out for a smaller and cute clutch!

One of the funniest things that I've found in my purse is old, stale dog treats! I work with a therapy dog and when I'm meeting with clients, I will keep some treats in my pockets, which I guess ultimately end up in my purse some how!

This may be my all time favorite post you have EVER done. I have seriously come back to it 5 different times. Plus I love your clutch. The "throw it in the diaper bag" is appealing to me considering I have a little one. I also just invested in a nice work tote/ larger purse and didn't want to admit it was a little large. You always know how to take a simple concept and turn it into something so practical for us all to use. Thank you, Thank you!!!

The most interesting thing I found in my purse? Well I got to work and I had to look through my purse for something and realized that I had every fork from my kitchen in my purse. My husband thinks he's a regular comedian. The sad thing is I didn't notice my purse was significantly heavier which shows I clearly need to purge some stuff.

I, too switched to the smaller purse because i sustitute teach and lunch water bottle, toiletries in a separate totes. Also, great for travel because you can slip a small bag into a boarding bag for two carry ons!

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